Newport Veteran Stand Down happening July 17

The Newport Veteran Stand Down is returning Saturday, July 17 at Newport High School, with ceremonies starting at 8 a.m. to provide services to the region’s veterans and honor those lost.

Robert Bradford Hanson, an organizer for the event, said the stand down helps connect veterans with social service programs and job placement training, as well as things like free haircuts, meals and surplus supplies such as clothing, sleeping bags and a limited number of cooking utensils.

“I get a lot of people that want to sign up for medical benefits,” he said. “A lot of people that are never taking the time to sign up, and we have people on hand that can help them.”

The first year, the stand down drew around 380 veterans, Hanson said. This year he expects around 500. Veterans often travel long distances to make it to the stand down.

“We get people from the West Coast to Washington. We've had people from Montana and Wyoming and Idaho,” he said. “[And] I think there are a couple people who showed up from Oregon last year.”

The VA is also organizing to have the Moving Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, in Newport from July 17-19 at the Newport Cemetery, and participate in the Banner Project, which honors veterans who have died in Washington and Idaho.

“We're gonna need a lot of volunteer services on the 12th, 13th and 14th for the Vietnam wall and the Banner Project. Probably 20 for the wall, and another eight to 10 for the banner project,” Hansen said. “This year, we're gonna need a lot of volunteer services on the 12th, 13th and 14th. It’s a very labor-intensive project to put it all together in time.”

For more information or to volunteer, Hansen can be contacted at (509) 671 3585.